Program timer with adjustable cam having shaft locking and removal means

ABSTRACT

A programable timer is provided which controls electrical or fluid switching devices. The timer is motor driven and is programmed by means of notches which are cut into the periphery of a plurality of disc type cams each having peripheral contouring. Each cam includes a radial slot for installation on and removal from a flattened portion of the drive shaft. The flattened portion of the shaft and the sides of the slot cooperate to transfer rotation from the drive motor to the cam. Each cam includes a cam locking device to hold it on the shaft and the shaft includes notches to space and position the cams on the shaft. Thus the timer may be rapidly reprogrammed by sliding a cam radially from the drive shaft and replacing it with a cam having different notches on its periphery.

United States Patent [191 Joeckel [111 3,82l,502 [4 June 28, 11974 [75] Inventor: Stanley V. .loeclrel, Wayne. NJ.

[73] Assignee: Lincoln Manufacturing Company,

Inc., Fort Wayne, 1nd.

221 Filed:' May11,l973

21 Appl. No.: 359,448

[52] US Cl. 200/38 BA, 74/568 R, 200/27 B, 200/31 R, 200/38 B, ZOO/153 LB [51] Int. Cl H0lh 43/10, Fl6h 53/00 [58] Field of Search 200/6 B, 14, 21, 27, 30 R, 200/31R, 38 R, 38 B, 38 BA, 38 C, 38 CA,

' 153 L, 153 LB; 74/567, 568 R, 568 T [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,773,539 I 8/1930 Miller 74/568 R UX 2,308,963 1/1943 Davis et a1. 74/568 R 2,888,837 6/1959 Hellmann 1. 74/568 R 2,971,066 2/1961 Tabet 200/14 X 2,978,553 4/1961 Bundy ct a1 74/568 X 10/1963 Goetz et a1 74/568 R 3/1971 Papa, Jr. et a1. 2.00/38 BA Primary Examiner-James R. Scott Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Albert L. Jeffers; Roger M. Rickert A programable timer is provided which controls electrical or fluid switching devices. The timer is motor driven and is programmed by means of notches which are cut into the periphery of a plurality of disc type cams each having peripheral contouring. Each cam includes a radial slot for installation on and removal from a flattened portion of the drive shaft. The flattened portion of the shaft and the sides of the slot cooperate to transfer rotation from the drive motor to the cam. Each cam includes a cam locking device to hold it on the shaft and the shaft includes notches to space and position the cams on the shaft. Thus the timer may be rapidly reprogrammed by sliding a cam radially from the drive shaft and replacing it with a cam having different notches on its periphery.

16 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PROGRAM TIMER WITH ADJUSTABLE CAM HAVING SHAFT LOCKING AND REMOVAL MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION vices are available in models and sizes which interchange with many electrical switching devices.

The present invention provides a valuable advance over the prior art by providing a means to rapidlyreplace one or more cams. Thus the program of the timer may be easily and rapidly changed by substituting one or more cams having different programs cut into their peripheries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a programmed timer of the motor driven cam disc type in which the cams are slotted for ease of removal and replacement, each cam is provided with a cam locking device toretain it to the drive shaft of the timer, and the drive shaft is notched to space and to locate the cams on the drive shaft.

A first objective is to provide a programmed timer of the motor driven cam disc type in which the timer may be reprogrammed with a minimum expenditure oftime.

A second objective is to provide a programmed timer in which the cams may be readily removed and replaced.

A third objective is to provide a timer having cams which may be removed without disassembly of shaft mounting and supporting parts.

A fourth objective is to provide a timer having cams which may be removed and replaced without disturbing adjacent cams.

A fifth objective is to provide a slotted cam which may be removed by movement transverse to the axis of the drive shaft.

A sixth objective is to provide a flattened drive shaft which will drivably engage the cam slot.

A seventh objective is to provide a cam locking device which will fasten a slotted cam to the drive shaft.

An eighth objective is to provide a force to positively position one side face of the cam slot against the flattened drive shaft.

A ninth objective is to provide a means to positively space and position each cam at predetermined points along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft.

These and other objectives will appear more clearly from the drawings and detailed descriptions.

BRIEF-DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the programable timer.

2 FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of the drive shaft with one cam assembled to the shaft and with one cam removed to show the notches in the shaft which provide longitudinal positioning of the cams.

FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing of a portion of a drive shaft which includes a different type of locating notch.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a cam which shows the spacer hub in dash lines and which includes a first type of cam locking device which is fastened to the outside surfaces of the discs.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of a cam which includes a second type of cam locking device which is fastened to the outside surfaces of the discs.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the section line AA of FIG. 1 and showing a cam locking device which is built into the spacer hub between the two discs.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the section line AA of FIG. 1 and showing an alternate type of cam locking device which is built into the spacer hub between the two discs.

. FIG. 8 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 7 to more clearly show the cam locking device.

FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of a cam which includes another cam locking device which may be attached to the outside of the discs.

F IG. 10 is a partial plan view illustrating one of a pair of exterior bent sheet metal spring locking devices.

FIG. 11 is a partial plan view of a cam which includes still another cam locking device which may be attached to the outside of the discs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, timer 10 includes a base 11 which is comprised oflongitudinal plate 12 and upright plates 13a and 13b, a drive shaft 14 which is journalled in upright plates 13a and 13b and which is comprised of a flattened or rectangular portion and cylindrical portions 16a and 1612, a timer drive motor 17 which is attached to upright plate 13a and which is drivably attached to drive shaft 141 by any of the various methods known to the art, cams 18 which are mounted on flattened portion 15 of drive shaft 14, and switching devices 19 which are mounted to longitudinal plate 12 and which includes arms 20 which are actuated by cams 18 and'by the peripheral contoured surfaces 341.

Timer 10 also includes a second switching device 76 having an arm 77. Second switching device 76 is adapted for use with cam 18d of FIG. 2 and second switching device 76 will be described along with the description of FIG. 2.

Arms 20 may be fitted with cam followers 21 as shown or arms 20 may be contoured to contact earns 18. Cylindrical portion 16b may be fitted with a reset knob and the driving attachment of motor 17 to drive shaft 14 may include a one-way clutch so that the timer may be manually positioned or reset. These details are common to the art and thus they are not shown. In addition, a manual selection device may be used to interconnect the three switching devices for manual selection of a timing program. In one preferred embodiment a simple rotary switch was employed to select a desired one of the switches 19 which in turn controlled a single oven heating unit.

On and off portions of the cam have not been designated since it is well-known in the art that both electrical and fluid switching devices are commonly manufactured to be either normally on or normally off. Thus the periphery of a cam disc 22 is contoured for the desired program and in accordance with the switching devices that are to be employed. In addition, fluid switching devices may be used as analog devices, that is, to proportion a signal. Thus it is clear that on and off positions, or even proportional signal positions, are a function of individual requirements.

Referring now to FIG. 2 for a detailed description of the drive shaft and earns: cam 18: includes a cam disc 220, a second disc 23c, and a spacer or hub 24c. Cam disc 220, a second disc 23c, and hub 24c include slots 25c, 26c, and 270 respectively which are in rotational alignment and which are sized to allow cam 180 to fit over rectangular portion 15.

Rectangular portion 15 includes a drive face or flat face 28 which is shown and a flat face 29 on the opposite side of face 28. Faces 28 and 29 drivably engage slot faces 30c and 31c of slot 25c.

Referring again to FIG. 2, a cam 18d is shown as being removed from drive shaft 14; and cam 18d replaces cam 18b of FIG. 1. Cam 18d includes a cam disc 22d having a slot 25d and a second disc 23d. Cam

18d includes a slot 27d in second disc 23d which is similar to slot 25d in cam disc 22d but which cannot be seen in the drawing. Cam 18d also includes a slotted spacer or hub which cannot be seen in the drawing but which is similar to hub 24c.

Rectangular portion 15 includes first and second notches 32b and 33b which are spaced and sized to fit with slot 25d of cam disc 22d and slot 27d of second disc 23d. Both notches 32b and 331) are cut in rectangular portion 15 transverse to drive face 28 and notch 32b is deeper than notch 33b. Thus it is apparent that slot 25d in cam disc 22d will not need to be as deep as slot 27d in second disc 23d. It is also apparent that the different depths of notches 32b and 33b and the different depths of slots 25d and 27d will prevent reversed assembly of cam 18d.

Second disc 23d includes peripheral contoured surface 49d; and thus cam 18d may be used to operate two separate switching devices, switching device 19); being actuated by cam disc 22d andsecond switching device 76 being actuated by second disc 23d. The switch 76 could, of course, be mounted on the plate 12 on the far side of the cam 18d if desired.

Referring once again to FIG. 2, it can be seen that slots 25d and 27d in cam disc 22d and second disc 23d each include a portion which serves as a shaft mounting aperture 99 and a portion which serves as a transverse removal gap 100. 7

Referring now to FIG. 3, drive shaft 35 includes flattened or rectangular portion 36 having a drive face 37 and notches 38a and 39a. It should be noticed that both notches 38a and 39a are oriented parallel to drive face 37. Thus the slots in the mating cam disc and second disc would have narrower slots. Also, notches 38a and 39a may be of different lengths, as shown, thus preventing reversed assembly of the cams.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 11, all of these drawings illustrate different mechanical locking devices for holding cams 18 on drive shaft 14 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and of course could be used in conjunction with the modified drive shaft or axle 35 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 includes a cam disc 222, a second disc 23e, and a hub 24e being interposed between cam disc 22e and second disc 23a and being fastened to discs 22e and 2312 by a plurality of machine screws 40. Cam discs 22e and 23e also include a pair of latches 41 shown and 42 being located on the far side of second disc 23a.

Latch or mechanical locking-unlocking device 41' may be formed by properly bending a spring wire and includes an attachment eye portion 43 being formed around one of the machine screws and extending into a hole 101 in the sidewall of disc 22e a pawl portion 44 engaging edge 45 of rectangular portion 15 of drive shaft 14, an end portion 46, and transverse loading portion 47 which is effective to apply a spring load against drive face 28 of rectangular portion 15 at point A and thus to spring load slot face 48c against drive face 29.

Thus latch 41 provides spring loaded forces at A and B; and latch 41 may be unlocked by lifting end portion 46.

In the FIG. 5 configuration, latches or lever catches 50 and 52 and spring 51 and 53 replace latches 41 and 42 of FIG. 4. Latch 50 and spring 51 are located on the outside of cam disc 22f as shown and the other latch and spring are located on the far side of the second disc and cannot be seen in the drawing.

Latch 50 includes pivot hole 54 and latch 50 is pivotally mounted to cam disc 22f by a screw or rivet 55. Latch 50 also includes a pawl face 56 which locks cam 18f to rectangular portion 15, a transverse loading projection 57 which forces slot face 48fagainst drive face 29, and a spring attaching hole 58. Spring 51 attaches to hole 58 and to a pin 59 which is in turn attached to cam disc 22f.

In the FIG. 6 configuration, hub 24g is equipped with a spring loaded detent or mechanical lockingunlocking device 60 which includes a hole 61g in hub 24g, a ball 62, a spring 63, and a spring retainer 64. Flattened portion 15g includes a detent depression 65g. Ball 62 is spring pressed into engagement with detent depression 653 to retain cam 18g snugly against rectangular portion 15g.

In the FIG. 7 configuration, hub 2412 is equipped with a spring loaded detent 67 which includes a hole 6111 in hub 24h, a ball 62 in hole 61h, a plunger 68, and a finger spring 69 which is attached to hub 2412 by screw 70 and which is attached to plunger 68. Finger spring 69 applies a detenting force to ball 62 through plunger 68.

The FIG. 8 drawing is a partial enlargement of the FIG. 7 configuration and serves to show that hole 61h has a reduced portion 71 which serves to retain ball 62 when the cam is not assembled to the rectangular portion of a drive shaft.

In FIG. 9 configuration is similar to the FIG. 4 configuration. The difference is that cam latch spring 73 is formed to hook around rivets 74 and 75; so that cam latch spring 73 provides more positive spring loading at point C than latch 41 of FIG. 4 provides at point A.

The FIG. 10 configuration shows yet another of the almost limitless ways the cam may be removably affixed to the drive shaft or axle. Here a flat sheet metal spring is fastened to the cam by a pair of screws 102 and 103 and as with several of the previous schemes a pair of such springs may be provided on opposite sides of the cam if desired.

In the H0. l1 configuration, a latch 92 includes pawl face 93 and is mounted to cam disc 22m at points 94 and 95. Latch 92 is made of a material and of a thickness that provides a self-springing action; and so pawl face 92 may be moved to remove cam 18m from rectangular portion l5 by applying finger pressure to lug portion 96.

There are, of course, many other ways to removably affix the cam to the axle. It could be simply fastened by screws, by magnets, or by pins. The flat portion of the axle might be otherwise configured to assure proper complacement. Other modifications of my invention will be apparent to those havingordinary skill in the art; and these are to be considered as a part of my invention, limited only by the scope of my claims.

I claim:

1. An improved program timer of the type which includes a base, a drive shaft being rotatably journaled in said base, a disc type cam being drivably attached to said shaft for rotation thereby and having a contoured surface thereon, a switching device having an actuating arm and being attached to said base at a location wherein said arm is actuated by said contoured surface, and a timer drive motor being attached to said base and being drivably attached to said shaft, the improvement which comprises:

means for removing said cam by movement thereof in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation of said shaft;

said disc type cam including a shaft mounting aperture therethrough and a transverse removal gap extending from said aperture to the outside of said cam; said drivable attachment of said cam including said aperture and means for mechanically locking said cam to said shaft;

fsaid removal means including said transverse removal gap and said mechanical locking means;

said shaft including a cylindrical portion which cooperates with said base to comprise said rotatable journaling, and a flattened portion having a drive face;

said cam including a radial slot which comprises both said shaft mounting aperture and said transverse removal gap and which includes a slot face that engages said drive face;

said drivable attachment of said cam to said shaft including said drive face and said slot face; and

said locking means including means for spring loading said slot face against said drive face.

2. A timer as claimed in claim 1 which includes means for locating said cam in a predetermined axial location on said shaft.

3. A timer as claimed in claim 1 in which a spring loaded detent comprises said mechanical locking means.

4. A timer as claimed in claim 1 in which a spring loaded latch comprises said mechanical locking means.

5. A timer as claimed in claim 1 in which said flattened portion includes notch means cooperating with said radial slot to position said cam on said shaft in a predetermined axial position thereof.

6. A timer as claimed in claim 5 in which said notch means is substantially parallel to said drive face.

7. A timer as claimed in claim 5 in which said notch means is substantially transverse to said drive face.

8. A timer as claimed in claim l in which said cam is comprised of a peripherally contoured cam disc and a hub which is rigidly attached to said cam disc.

9. A timer as claimed in claim a which includes detent means being attached to said hub and being spring engaged with said flattened portion of said shaft.

ill). A timer as claimed in claim 8 in which said cam includes a second disc being attached to said hub re mote from said cam disc; and

said second disc includes a second slot which is in rotational alignment with said slot in said cam disc.

111. A timer as claimed in claim 10 in which said second disc is peripherally contoured; and I said timer includes a second switching device being attached to said base and having an arm contacting said second disc for actuation by said second disc and by said peripheral contouring thereon.

112. A timer as claimed in claim 10 in which said cam includes first and second latch means being attached to said cam disc and to said second disc respectively.

13. A timer as claimed in claim If) in which one of said slots is different in size than the other one of said slots;

and said flattened portion includes notch means cooperating with said slots to position said cam on said shaft in a predetermined axial position thereof and to prevent reversed assembly of said cam and said shaft.

14!. A timer as claimed in claim 13 in which said notch means includes first and second notches which are sized and spaced to mate with the respective sizes and spacing of said slots.

15. An improved program timer of the type which includes a base having a longitudinal plate and two upright plates, a drive shaft having a pair of cylindrical journaling portions and being rotatably journaled in said upright plates, a plurality of disc type cams being drivably attached to said shaft for rotation thereby and having peripheral contouring thereon, a plurality of switching devices each having an actuating arm and each being attached to said base at a location wherein said arms are actuated by said cams, and a timer drive motor being attached to one of said plates and being drivably attached to said shaft, the improvement which comprises:

a rectangular portion in said shaft intermediate of said journaling portions;

a radial slot in at least one of said cams, said slot having a pair of flat faces which are in driving contact with said rectangular portion; and

spring loaded latch means securing said one cam to said shaft.

16. A timer as claimed in claim 15 in which said flatten'ed portion includes notch means engaging said one disc cam and providing positive longitudinal position- .ing thereof in relation to said upright plates. 

1. An improved program timer of the type which includes a base, a drive shaft being rotatably journaled in said base, a disc type cam being drivably attached to said shaft for rotation thereby and having a contoured surface thereon, a switching device having an actuating arm and being attached to said base at a location wherein said arm is actuated by said contoured surface, and a timer drive motOr being attached to said base and being drivably attached to said shaft, the improvement which comprises: means for removing said cam by movement thereof in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation of said shaft; said disc type cam including a shaft mounting aperture therethrough and a transverse removal gap extending from said aperture to the outside of said cam; said drivable attachment of said cam including said aperture and means for mechanically locking said cam to said shaft; said removal means including said transverse removal gap and said mechanical locking means; said shaft including a cylindrical portion which cooperates with said base to comprise said rotatable journaling, and a flattened portion having a drive face; said cam including a radial slot which comprises both said shaft mounting aperture and said transverse removal gap and which includes a slot face that engages said drive face; said drivable attachment of said cam to said shaft including said drive face and said slot face; and said locking means including means for spring loading said slot face against said drive face.
 2. A timer as claimed in claim 1 which includes means for locating said cam in a predetermined axial location on said shaft.
 3. A timer as claimed in claim 1 in which a spring loaded detent comprises said mechanical locking means.
 4. A timer as claimed in claim 1 in which a spring loaded latch comprises said mechanical locking means.
 5. A timer as claimed in claim 1 in which said flattened portion includes notch means cooperating with said radial slot to position said cam on said shaft in a predetermined axial position thereof.
 6. A timer as claimed in claim 5 in which said notch means is substantially parallel to said drive face.
 7. A timer as claimed in claim 5 in which said notch means is substantially transverse to said drive face.
 8. A timer as claimed in claim 1 in which said cam is comprised of a peripherally contoured cam disc and a hub which is rigidly attached to said cam disc.
 9. A timer as claimed in claim 8 which includes detent means being attached to said hub and being spring engaged with said flattened portion of said shaft.
 10. A timer as claimed in claim 8 in which said cam includes a second disc being attached to said hub remote from said cam disc; and said second disc includes a second slot which is in rotational alignment with said slot in said cam disc.
 11. A timer as claimed in claim 10 in which said second disc is peripherally contoured; and said timer includes a second switching device being attached to said base and having an arm contacting said second disc for actuation by said second disc and by said peripheral contouring thereon.
 12. A timer as claimed in claim 10 in which said cam includes first and second latch means being attached to said cam disc and to said second disc respectively.
 13. A timer as claimed in claim 10 in which one of said slots is different in size than the other one of said slots; and said flattened portion includes notch means cooperating with said slots to position said cam on said shaft in a predetermined axial position thereof and to prevent reversed assembly of said cam and said shaft.
 14. A timer as claimed in claim 13 in which said notch means includes first and second notches which are sized and spaced to mate with the respective sizes and spacing of said slots.
 15. An improved program timer of the type which includes a base having a longitudinal plate and two upright plates, a drive shaft having a pair of cylindrical journaling portions and being rotatably journaled in said upright plates, a plurality of disc type cams being drivably attached to said shaft for rotation thereby and having peripheral contouring thereon, a plurality of switching devices each having an actuating arm and each being attached to said base at a location wherein said arms are actuated by said cams, and a timer drive motor being attached tO one of said plates and being drivably attached to said shaft, the improvement which comprises: a rectangular portion in said shaft intermediate of said journaling portions; a radial slot in at least one of said cams, said slot having a pair of flat faces which are in driving contact with said rectangular portion; and spring loaded latch means securing said one cam to said shaft.
 16. A timer as claimed in claim 15 in which said flattened portion includes notch means engaging said one disc cam and providing positive longitudinal positioning thereof in relation to said upright plates. 